A serial rapist has attacked seven women in South Dallas near Fair Park since
late June, Dallas police said late Tuesday.

Five of the assaults happened within the last two weeks, said police, who are
urging women to take extra precaution against the armed rapist. The latest
attack was early Sunday in the 3800 block of Spring Avenue.

“Don’t walk alone. If possible use a vehicle,” said Maj. Jeff Cotner of the
crimes against persons division.

The assaults were announced just weeks before thousands of people will
converge at Fair Park for the State Fair of Texas, which begins Sept. 27.

Police are working with victims to develop a composite sketch of the attacker
to release to the public.

The victims’ ages range from late teens to early 40s, police said.

All of the women were assaulted between midnight and 6 a.m. Police said that
each was walking in an isolated area when a man armed with a chrome or nickel
semi-automatic handgun approached on foot.

In one case, the man assaulted two women, police said.

After demanding money, the man took the victims to a secluded area and raped
them, police said. The women were taken to vacant lots or houses, and in one
case a public sidewalk, according to police reports.

In most of the offenses, the women had been walking alone. In one case, the
victim was walking with children, police said.

Police said it took time to connect the cases because of the length of time
between the second and third attacks.

“We had this gap, and we don’t know, that’s part of our investigation, is why
we had this large gap of six weeks,” Cotner said. “Since August 20th all the way
through September 1st, we’ve had those five occurrences. Certainly you can see
the trend there.”

Police described the man as black, 25 to 30 years old, 200 pounds and
5-foot-6 to 5-foot-11. He wore a T-shirt, basketball shorts and oval- or
round-shaped glasses. He is known to cover his face with clothing during the
attacks.

He may be driving a gray or silver car, either a four-door Honda Civic or an
older-model Volvo with tinted windows.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest or indictment of the man. Anyone with information is urged
to call 214-373-TIPS.

Traswell Livingston, president of the South Boulevard-Park Row Neighborhood
Association, said he has heard of nearby attacks before, but the serial nature
of these rapes has him “on edge,” he said.

He said his neighborhood group has a good relationship with police and will
be vigilant.

“We’re looking to bring him to justice,” Livingston said. “We as neighbors
are coming together and we’re going to be on the watch to report any suspicious
behavior.”

This is the second high-profile series of sexual assaults in Dallas this
year.

In March, police and the Lake Highlands neighborhood were on high alert after
a man raped three women in one month.

Cesar Benitez, 30, was arrested in April after police determined that he
resembled one of the suspect sketches and had injuries matching those the
attacker would have suffered in one of the assaults.

He confessed to all three rapes, and his DNA matched evidence at the crime
scenes. Benitez is being held at a Dallas County jail in lieu of more than $6
million bail.

Police did not say if the Fair Park attacker sustained injuries in his
attacks.